Paper feeding device



Sept. 13, 1960 J. M. NESSEL ETAL PAPER FEEDING DEVICE Filed March '7,1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. M. NESSEL ETAL PAPER FEEDING DEVICE Sept. 13,1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 7, 1958 'IIIIIIIIIIIII;

Sept. 13, 1960 J. M. NESSEL EI'AL PAPER FEEDING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed March 7, 1958 MINI" United States Patent PAPER FEEDING DEVICE JiriM. Nessel and Paul B. Johnson, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to ClaryCorporation, San Gabriel, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Mar.7, 1958, Ser. No. 719,899 12 Claims. (Cl. 197-127) This inventionrelates to printing machines such as typewriters, accounting machines,billing machines, etc., and has particular reference to means forautomatically line positioning a work sheet on which information is tobe typed.

In accounting and similar work, work sheets, such as statement forms,are periodically placed in the accounting machine and information isprinted thereon on lines located below previously printed lines. In thisway, numerous entries may be made from time to time on successive linesof the same sheet.

Several devices have been developed for locating a newly placed worksheet in proper position in the accounting machine -to receive a newline of print direct: ly below a previously printed line. Such devices,in general, incorporate a punch for perforating the sheet at apredetermined position relative to the last printed line. In certain ofsuch arrangements, the paper is front fed by hand until the locatinghole is sensed by a suitable locating pin or the like whereupon thesheet is arrested in order to proceed with the printing. In otherarrangements, electric circuit sensing means are utilized to sense thelocating hole and arrest the paper feed. The former arrangements,although generally satisfactory, require a certain amount of dexterityand time in order to properly manually position the paper relative tothe line sensing means, while the latter mechanisms require aconsiderable amount of electrical and associated mechanical equipment inorder to properly arrest the paper feeding mechanism.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an automaticmechanical line positioning device for replaced work sheets in anaccounting machine or the like.

Another object is to incorporate a relatively simple automatic linepositioning mechanism for replaced work sheets in a printing machinehaving a shiftable paper carriage.

Another object is to provide an automatic line positioning device forreplaced work sheets in which the spacing between lines may beselectively varied.

A further object is to utilize the usual line spacing handle of ashiftable carriage machine to operate a paper injecting mechanism.

The manner in which the above and other objects of the invention areaccomplished will be readily understood on reference to the followingspecification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an accounting machine paper carriage embodyinga preferred form of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the drive transmission forthe paper injecting mechanism and is taken along the line 22 of Figs. 1and 4.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the drive transmis- Sion and is takenalong the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

2,952,349 Patented Sept. 13, 1960 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a rear view, with parts broken away, of the platen and papersupport, and is taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through the carriage and is takensubstantially along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional 88 of Figs. 1 and 6.

Fig. 9 is a detailed elevation view of the punch control cam arm.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional line 10-10 of Fig. 1, for the paperfeed rolls.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged side view of the combined punch and locating pinshown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged plan view of the combined punch and locating pin.

Referring to the drawings, the carriage, in general, embodies a platen13 rotatably supported, in. a manner to be described in detail later, byspaced side frame plates 14 and '15. The latter are integrally fastenedas by screws 16 to carriage base bars 16 (Fig. 4), which are supportedfor endwise movement on rollers 17, movable along a fixed track frame 18which is suitably supported, in a manner not shown, on the accountingmachine frame.

A gear box 19 is provided at the left hand end of the carriage and issecured by screws 20 to a box frame 21, which, in turn, is secured tothe frame plate 14 partly by a combined clamp screw and pivot pin 22.

A combined paper feed and carriage shift handle 23 is fulcrumed on thepin '22 for rocking movement in either direction about its medialposition, illustrated in Fig. 1. counterclockwise movement of the handlefrom its medial position is effective to cause a line spacing movementof the platen and to shift the carriage to the right incidental tostarting a new line of print. Clockwise movement of the handle from itsmedial position is effective to inject a. work sheet, such as astatement form, over the platen until it is in proper position forprinting a new line of type as will be described later.

Describing first the line spacing mechanism operated by the handle 23, anose 25 on the latter normally engages a pin 26 mounted on a plate 27also fulcrurned on the pivot pin 22 below the handle. A spring 29tensioned between the pin 26 and a pin 26' carried by the handle 23normally holds the plate 27 in its illustrated position with pin 26abutting the nose 25. The plate 27 is pivotally connected at 28 to alink 30 (see also Fig. 8) which, in turn, is pivoted at 31 to an arm 32.The latter is fulcrumed at 33 on the frame plate 14 and pivotallysupports at its outer end a pawl 34. The latter is adapted to engage theteeth of a ratchet 35 fastened by screws 36 to a bushing 37 (see alsoFig. 5). The latter supports the left hand end of the platen '13 forrotation thereon while the hub of the ratchet wheel 35 is journaled in aflanged sleeve 38 clamped to the frame plate 14 to thus rotatablysupport the left hand end of the platen.

The right hand end of the platen has attached thereto, as by screws 40,a flanged hub 41 having threadably secured therein one end of a shaft 42journaled in a sleeve 43 attached to the right hand frame plate 15.

A line space selector lever 44 (Figs. 5 and 8) is journaled on thesleeve 38 and has an arm 45 carrying a view taken along line view takenalong the illustrating the drive connections round headed rivet 46adapted to snap into one of three holes 47 formed in the side plate 14,to thereby detent the lever 44 in any of three positions. The lever 44is provided with a second arm 48 which is formed to overlie the teeth ofthe ratchet wheel 35. The pawl 34 normally rides on the periphery of thearm 48 and by positioning the lever in different ones of its threesettings, the arm 48 selectively delays engagement of the pawl with theteeth of the ratchet whereby to cause the pawl to advance the same, andthus the platen, one, two or three increments during counterclockwiserocking of the handle 23-. As the pawl 34 reaches the end of its stroke,the arm 32 will engage the periphery of the sleeve 38 so that furtherpivotal movement of the handle 23 will be limited but continued manualpressure on the handle toward the right will be effective to shift thecarriage to the right preparatory to a new line of print.

A centralizer 50 is yieldably held in engagement with the ratchet wheel35 by a spring 50' whereby to locate the platen in any position to whichit has been advanced.

Means are provided for selectively enabling manual variable line spacingof the platen. For this purpose, a plunger 51 is slidably mounted inaxial openings formed in the bushing 37 and ratchet wheel 35. Alongitudinal slot 52 is formed in the right hand end of the plunger andembraces a transversely extending pin 53 fastened in the platen 13. Ashaft 54 threadably fastened in the left hand end of the plungerterminates in a knob 55 whereby the platen may be rotated independentlyof the handle 23.

The flange 37 has spring fingers 56 attached thereto by screws 57. Thefingers carry friction buttons 58 engageable with the inner periphery ofthe platen 1'3 and the outer ends of the fingers engage a conicalcamming surface 60 formed on the plunger. Thus, when the knob 55 ispressed inward, the fingers 56 will be deflected outward radially,causing the buttons 58 to grip the platen so that the latter will besecured as a unit to the ratchet wheel 35. Withdrawal of the knob 55into its position illustrated will permit rotation of the platen 13through the pin 53, independently of the ratchet wheel 35.

The carriage is provided with means for front feeding a statement sheetor the like, and for this purpose a pair of paper feed chutes 62 and 63are provided. The latter extend substantially tangentially of theperiphery of the platen 13, and are each provided with spaced bearingblocks 64 pivotally mounted on a pin 65 carried by a clamp block 66. Theclam-p block of each chute is slideable on a support bar 67 and isclamped in position by a clamp screw 68 hearing against a leaf spring 70carried by the respective block.

The bar 67 is supported at its ends by swingable support arms 71 and 72(see also Figs. 1 and fulcrumed on the sleeve 38 and bushing 43,respectively.

The arms 71 and 72 extend upwardly to form bearings for a feed shaft 73on which are splined rubber tired rollers 74 and 75 extending throughopenings in the rear walls of respective ones of feed chutes 62 and 63.

The rollers 74 and 75 engage pressure rollers 76 and 77, respectively,each extending through an opening in the front wall of the respectivechute and carrying a short axle 78 which is held in place by a leafspring 80 suitably attached at its lower end to the front wall of thechute. The upper end of the spring 80 carries a pin 81 forming the pivotfor a bail 82, the legs of which have slots 83 embracing the oppositeends of the axle 78. By rocking the bail 82 clockwise from its positionillustrated in Fig. 7, the pressure roller, Le. 76, is moved into itsdot and dash position 76a, permitting a torsion spring 84 extendingbetween the clamp block 66 and the chute to rock the chutecounterclockwise away from the periphery of the platen to permit backfeed threading of paper over the platen, or thelike.

The carriage is provided with a paper punch for enabling a lineindicating hole to be punched at one side of the paper in apredetermined relation relative to a printed line. When the sheet iswithdrawn and later again injected through the chutes 62 and 63, thepunch will act as a sensing element to sense the position of the punchedhole and thereby arrest the injecting mechamsrn.

The punch, indicated at (see also Figs. 11 and 12), is slideably mountedin one of the chute supportingblocks 66 .and cooperates with an openingformed in a die block 91 suitably attached to the front wall of thechute.

An arm 92 is pivotally supported at 93 by a depending portion of thechute block and is keyed into an opening formed in the punch 90. The arm92 is urged counterclockwise by a light torsion spring '94 to normallylocate the punch out of the paper passage in the chute, as shown in Fig.7. The arm 92 is engaged by a cam arm 95 (see also Fig. 9), pivoted onthe pin 65. The latter is engaged by a cam bar 96 which extends betweenthe aforementioned arms 71 and 72 and is provided with trunnion bearingportions 98 journaled in bearings formed in such arms. An actuating arm97 is attached to the cam bar 96 and when swung forwardly, causes thecambar 96 to actuate the cam arm 95 and thus force the punch 90 to theright to punch an opening in the paper.

Although only one punch is disclosed, a similar punch could obviously bemounted on the second chute.

Describing now the means for injecting a paper sheet into properprinting position relative to a printing Sta tion P and to a linepreviously printed on the sheet, the handle 23 overlies a gear sector101, also fulcrumed on the pivot pin 22. A spring 102 is tensionedbetween a pin 109 on the handle and a pin'109' on the gear sector tonormally hold the handle in its medial position against a pin 103extending from the sector. The pin 109 also extends from the bottom ofthe gear sector and abuts against a pinion 104 thereby preventing thesector from being drawn counterclockwise.

The gear sector 101 meshes with the pinion 104 rotatably mounted on astub shaft 105 fixed to a boss 106 (Fig. 2) integral with the gearhousing 19. A ratchet wheel 107 is suitably keyed to the hub of thepinion 104 and is engaged by a spring pressed pawl 108 (Fig. 3)pivotally mounted at 110 on a bevel gear 111 also freely mounted on thestub shaft 105. The gear 111 meshes with a second bevel gear 112 whichis rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 113 extending through a boss 114suitably attached to the side frame plate 14. The beveled gear 112 isattached to a gear 115 which meshes with a gear 116 rotatably mounted ona stationary sleeve 117 (see also Fig. 5) and keyed to a cog wheel 118also journaled on the sleeve.

The sleeve 117 is threadably attached to the aforementioned sleeve 38and is effective to clamp-a portion of the gear box 19 against a spacer120 interposed between the gear box wall and the frame plate 14 andthereby to also clamp the plate 1'4 between the-spacer and the sleeve38.

A flexible cog belt 121 extends over the cog wheel 11 8 and over asecond cog wheel 122 keyed on the paper feed roll shaft 73 whereby toestablish a driving connection between the gear 115 and the drive rolls74 and 75 splined on the shaft 7 3.

The handle 23 is provided with a cam formation 123 which is effectivewhen the handle is rocked a predetermined amount in a clockwisedirection from its medial position to engage a roller 124 (Figs. l and8)* on a lever 125 which is pivoted on one of the trunnion. bearingextensions 98 of the cam bar 96 and is normally held in its illustratedposition by a tension spring 119. A light torsion spring 128 is attachedbetween'the. lever 125 and a latch arm 130 integrally attached to thecam: har trune nion 98. The spring 128 is slightly stronger than theaforementioned torsion spring 94 (Fig. 7).

The latch 1'30 normally lies under a trip finger 131 extending from astop bar 132. The latter is guided for vertical movement on the arm 72by a pin and slot connection 133 and is urged downwardly by a tensionspring 127 tensioned between the stop bar 13-2 and the lever 125.

When a work sheet is fitted within the guide chutes 62 and 63 in aposition wherein the lower edge of the paper rests at the intersectionsof the rollers, Le. 74 and 76, and the handle 23 is rocked clockwise,the rollers 74 and 75 will be rotated to advance the paper downwardlythrough the chutes. After the lower edge of the paper has passed belowthe punch 90, the cam formation 123 will be effective to rock the lever125. thus stress ing the torsion spring 128 to urge the latch 130 andthe cam bar 96 clockwise to lightly urge the punch 90 against thesurface of the paper as it advances downwardly onto the periphery of theplaten 13. The pressure exerted by the punch 90 against the surface ofthe paper at this time will be insufiicient to punch the latter or toimpede its downward progress. However, when the paper has traveleddownwardly until a previously punched hole comes opposite the punch, thespring 128 will become effective to move the punch into the hole,thereby rocking the latch 130 clockwise out from under the trip finger131. The spring 127 having been stressed by the rocking of lever 125will now become effective to lower the bar 132, causing a latching tip135 thereon to engage a notched wheel 136 keyed on the shaft 73 so as toarrest the latter and thus prevent further feeding of the paper.

As will be seen particularly in Figs. 11 and 12, the leading edge of thepunch 90 is chamfered at 137 to permit ready entry of the same into apreviously punched hole, as indicated at 139, in the paper even thoughthe hole may be slightly out of registry as it moves over the punch.

Suitable pressure rollers, as at 140, are provided for pressing thepaper against the surface of the platen. Such rollers may normally belocated out of engagement with the platen as shown in Fig. 1, permittingfront feed threading of the paper over the platen. Subsequently, therollers are spring pressed into engagement (by means not shown) toenable the platen to feed the paper thereover past the printing station.

Also, means (not shown) may be provided to detent the chute supportingarms 71 and 72 in their positions shown in Fig. 7 or in their alternatecounterclockwise rocked positions.

Although we have described our invention in detail in its preferredembodiment and have therefore used certain specific terms and languagesherein, it is to be understood that the present disclosure isillustrative rather than restrictive and that certain changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what we desire to secure by UnitedStates Letters Patent is:

1. In a printing machine having a rotatable paper advancing platen, thecombination comprising a paper injeoting device for injecting a sheet ofpaper past said platen, a line spacing mechanism for incrementallyrotating said platen, a manually operable handle, means supporting saidhandle for movement in either of opposite directions from a medialposition, means responsive to said handle upon movement thereof in onedirection from said medial position for actuating said line spacingmechanism, and means responsive to said handle upon movement thereof inthe opposite direction from said medial position for actuating saidinjecting mechanism.

2. In a printing machine having a frame, a paper carriage supported bysaid frame for lengthwise movement, and a rotatable paper advancingplaten carried by said carriage, the combination comprising a paperinjecting device carried by said carriage for injecting a sheet of paperpast said platen, a line spacing mechanism carried by said carriage forincrementally rotating said platen, a manually operable handle, means onsaid carriage supporting said handle for movement in either of oppositedirections from a medial position, means responsive to said handle uponmovement thereof in one direction from said medial position foractuating said injecting device, and means responsive to said handleupon movement thereof in the opposite direction from said medialposition for moving said carriage lengthwise and for operating said linespacing mechanism.

3. In a printing machine having a platen, the combination comprising adevice for injecting a sheet of record material past said platen, saidsheet having a print line indicating means thereon, means for sensingthe position of said print line indicating means at a predeterminedlocation relative to said platen, means controlled by said lastmentioned means upon sensing said indicating means to arrest saidinjecting device, a line spacing mechanism, a manually operable linespacing handle, means supporting said handle for movement in either ofopposite directions from a medial position, means responsive to saidhandle upon movement thereof in one direction from said medial positionto actuate said injecting device, and means responsive to said handleupon movement thereof in the opposite direction from said medialposition to operate said line spacing mechanism.

4. In a printing machine having a frame, a carriage supported by saidframe for lengthwise movement, and a platen carried by said carriage,the combination comprising a device for injecting a sheet of recordmaterial past said platen, said sheet having a print line indicatingmeans thereon, means for sensing the position of said print lineindicating means at a predetermined location relative to said platen,means controlled by said last mentionedmeans upon sensing said lineindicating means to arrest said injecting device, a manually operablehandle, means supporting said handle for movement in either of oppositedirections from a medial position, means responsive to said handle uponmovement thereof in one direction from said medial position to actuatesaid injecting device, and means responsive to said handle upon movementthereof in the opposite direction from said medial position to move saidcarriage lengthwise.

5. In a printing machine having a frame, a carriage supported by saidframe for lengthwise movement, and a rotatable paper advancing platencarried by said carriage, the combination comprising an injecting devicefor injecting a sheet of record material past said platen, said sheethaving a print line indicating means thereon, means for sensing theposition of said print line indicating means at a predetermined locationrelative to said platen, means controlled by said last mentioned meansupon sensing said line indicating means to arrest said injecting device,a line spacing mechanism for incrementally rotating said platen, amanually operable handle, means on said carriage supporting said handlefor movement in either of opposite directions from a medial position,means responsive to said handle upon movement thereof in one directionfrom said medial position to actuate said injecting device, and meansresponsive to said handle upon movement thereof in the oppositedirection from said medial position to move said carriage lengthwise andto operate said line spacing mechanism.

6. In a printing machine having a rotatable paper advancing platen, thecombination comprising a feeding device for feeding a sheet of recordmaterial past said platen, said sheet having a print line locating holetherein, a feeler effective to enter said hole at a position adjacentsaid platen, means controlled by said feeler upon sensing said openingto arrest said feeding device, line spacing mechanism for incrementallyrotating said platen, a manually operable handle, means supporting saidhandle for movement in either of opposite directions from a medialposition, yieldable means normally maintaining said handle in saidmedial position, means responsive to said handle uponmovement thereof inone direction from said medial position to actuate said feeding device,and means responsive to said handle upon movement thereof in theopposite direction from said medial position to operate said linespacing mechanism.

7. In a printing machine having means for guiding a work sheet to aprinting station, a punch adapted to punch a print line indicating holein said sheet, means for operating said punch, means for feeding saidwork sheet through said guiding means, and means operable by saidfeeding means for causing said punch to sense said hole.

8. In a printing machine having means for guiding a Work sheet to aprinting station, the combination comprising a punch adapted to punch aprint line indicating perforation in said sheet, means for operatingsaid punch, means for feeding said work sheet through said guidingmeans, means operable by said feeding means for causing said punch tosense said perforation, and means controlled by said punch upon sensingsaid perforation for arresting said feeding means.

9. In a printing machine having means for guiding a work sheet to aprinting station, the combination compris ing a punch adapted to punch aprint line indicating perforation in said sheet, means for operatingsaid punch, means for feeding said work sheet through said guidingmeans, means operable by said feeding means for yieldably pressing saidpunch against the surface of said work sheet, and means responsive toentry of said punch into said perforation for arresting said feedingmeans.

10. In a machine of the class described having means for guiding a Worksheet to a printing station, the combination comprising a punch adaptedto punch a print line indicating perforation in said sheet, means foropenating said punch, means for feeding said sheet through said ingmeans, a latching device for normally latching said arresting device inineffective condition, and means controlled by said punch upon enteringsaid perforation for releasing said latching device. 7

11; In a printing machine having means for guiding a work sheet to aprinting station, the combination comprising a punch adapted to punch aprint line indicating perforation in said sheet, means for operatingsaid punch to perforate said sheet, means for feeding said sheet throughsaid guide means, a first spring normally maintaining said punch out ofengagement with said sheet, and a second spring stronger than said firstspring and operable by said feeding means for pressing said punchagainst the surface of said sheet whereby to sense said perforation.

12. In a printing machine having means for guiding a work sheet to aprinting station, the combination comprising a punch adapted to punch aprint line indicating perforation in said sheet, means for operatingsaid punch to perforate said sheet, means for feeding said sheetthrough.

said guiding means, a first spring normally maintaining said punch outof engagement with said sheet, a second spring stronger than said firstspring and operable by said feeding means for pressing said punchagainst the surface of said sheet whereby to sense said perforation, andmeans responsive to entry of said punch in said perforation forarresting said feeding means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,670,068 Rutishauser et al Feb. 23, 1954

